ZeaChem, a developer of biorefineries seeking to make renewable fuels a reality, announced it has made a major step forward in bringing biofuels to the market with the production of a bio-based acetic acid at a purity level that could be marketed as salable. Acetic acid is a building block in the creation of cellulosic ethanol.

The news comes not long after an announcement from ZeaChem that it is ramping up work on its fermentation process using a naturally occurring organism called an acetogen that is increases the efficiency of making more concentrated acetic acid.  ZeaChem sees the breakthrough as a major step towards creating economically sustainable and high yield cellulosic ethanol.

Acetic acid is used to make bottles, film, fibers, and other products, with a global demand for acetic acid estimated at around 14.3 billion pounds per year and sales valued at around $1 billion. ZeaChem plans to move forward using tried and true esterification technology, which is a process that converts acetic acid into ethyl acetate, the chemical precursor of ZeaChem produced cellulosic ethanol. The company plans to produce around 250,000 gallons-per-year at a proposed facility in Boardman, Oregon.

ZeaChem’s method of creating biofuels goes beyond the traditional processes of making biofuels, such as corn based ethanol, which often yield high levels of carbon dioxide in the production process. The company is based in Lakewood, Colorado, with a R&D facility in Menlo Park, California.